July 12, 2013

Steampunk Pirate

Last night, I finished the jacket and I am so happy with the results.While this jacket certainly isn't for everyone, it has everything I was wanting it to be.It will be a great jacket to wear with jeans and can even be dressed up for a more formal look.Really, it can - believe me.And it is unique.Made from two repurposed men's shirts, a length of vintage kimono fabric (sleeves) and a few kimono scraps.Salvaged buttons and the only new item is the red lining.This fall, there is a retirement party that I will be attending. It is informal and pirate themed and I think this jacket will be perfect.Love it.This jacket was so fun to make. I had the best time with it these past couple of days that now I want to make more.When I was working on the jacket facing, I started to run out of material but I like the pieced mix. And after I had made the left facing, I noticed a small hole in the stripe fabric that was going to need a patch. So I figured if I was going to have to patch, I may as well go with an obvious patch and used the heart shaped patch.The patch just happens to fall right over the heart when wearing the jacket.A happy accident.Along the bottom, I used pieces of scrap pieced material that I blogged about here.

I like how nothing goes to waste but it's a love hate thing because I also hate how it's hard to throw out even the tiniest of scraps knowing that I can repurpose them.Every two weeks, I clean out the studio with the plan to throw out at least one bag to the garbage. It helps keep control over the mess and I consol myself that even though I am throwing out, I do use and make quite a bit.

Now on the finishing the Chanel inspired jacket that is defying being finished.